Carbon Booklet 2 Flashcards
Why are the oceans a significant carbon store?
50 x larger than atmospheric carbon store
38000 PgC
What decreases the significance of lithification within the oceans biological pump?
Only 0.2 pgc/yr precipitates to ocean floor
Most is eaten or transported by currents
What shows the significance of polar oceans as a carbon sink?
Southern ocean is responsible for 25% of carbon sequestered by the oceans
How much warming has occurred since the Industrial Revolution?
1.1 degree Celsius
How have phytoplankton been affected by the EGHE?
Prefer cold nutrient rich waters - warming waters = decreased phytoplankton
Decreased by 20% in Indian Ocean in last 60 years
How has ocean PH changed and how could this affect corals?
Current = 8.1
Pre-industrial = 8.2
Corals stop growing at 7.8
This pH change could occur by 2050
Significant as coral reefs capture carbon 35x faster than TRFs
(Higher storage than most terrestrial ecosystems)
What are examples of global currents formed by the oceans physical pump
Gulf Stream and the North Atlantic drift
Why can zooxanthela release from bleaching corals affect human populations?
Nations such as Kiribati affected as 26% of their economy relies on primary sector fishing
How could EGHE impacts on corals become problematic for Australia?
Great Barrier Reef
$6.4 billion to Australian economy
90% tourism related
How could the EGHE impact coastal flood risk?
Warming increases low pressure systems
Increased storm surges
E.g. cyclone sidr (Bangladesh) -6m storm surge
How could the Maldives be affected by SLR?
If SLR of 50cm
77% of Maldives submerged
Tourism = 30% of their GDP
What is an example of where marine transgression has caused greater saltwater intrusion, impacting primary sector production?
Decreased agricultural yields of rice crop in Mekong river ( Vietnam)
